MOTORISTS face weeks of diversions with the imminent start of a #3.3 million flood relief programme in Leamington....

MOTORISTS face weeks of diversions with the imminent start of a #3.3 million flood relief programme in Leamington.

Severn Trent will begin work on July 23, after months of preparation to save Lillington homes from further flooding. The scheme will improve the drains and sewers for 14,000 homes in the town.

Larry Barnes, Severn Trent field services manager, said: ?When huge volumes of water fall over quite a short period of time, it simply overwhelms the area?s sewers and drains.

?By building extra storage space into the sewerage system and enlarging some of the pipes, we are ensuring that the risk of flooding from storms is reduced to an absolute minimum.?

Work starts at the beginning of the school holidays, with drivers warned of delays.

Mr Barnes said: ?During August, we will begin work in Lillington Road to construct what is effectively a huge underground storage tank nine metres bellow the road surface.

?It will be necessary to introduce a diversion for northbound traffic along Cubbington Road and Lime Avenue, which will be in operation for about 23 weeks. Southbound traffic will remain unaffected.

Worthwhile

Cllr Eithne Goode (LibDem, Leamington Manor) said: ?No-one has complained to me about the roadworks. I think people have known it has been coming for a long time and know it is a small price to pay to stop people?s homes being flooded.?

At the same time, Warwick District Council will be carrying out work on the nearby Midland Oak field, to stop the flooding of the Bins Brook.

But Cllr Goode said there was still more work to do.

?We need to address the issue of surface water, which is left unclear.

?There was a surface water drainage forum set up, but I think it has only met once.

?There has been flooding in Kinross Road, and there are not many drains in that area.?